Celebration of 70th anniversary of the National Day of the S.R. of Viet Nam

A belief in the future of Viet Nam – Japan extensive strategic partnership 

H.E Mr. NGUYEN QUOC CUONG

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Japan

On 2nd September 1945, President Ho Chi Minh, the great Leader of Vietnamese people, read out the immortal Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam). Over the past 70 years, the Vietnamese people have consistently overcome countless difficulties and fought against foreign invaders in order to struggle for their independence and freedom. Ever since its national re-unification in 1975, Vietnam has entered a new era of national reconstruction and active integration into the international community, contributing to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world over.

In their economic development and national construction, the Vietnamese people have recorded significant achievements. From being an underdeveloped and devastated nation, Viet Nam has become a role model for development, and an active, sincere and reliable partner of all nations. In the Human Development Report 2010, the United Nations (UN) ranked Viet Nam as one of the best countries with impressive progress in Gross National Income (GNI). The World Bank has announced that Viet Nam has successfully transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world, with per capita income below US$100, into a lower middle income country within a quarter of a century of reforms (Doi Moi) with per capita income of over $2,000 by the end of 2014. Indeed, since its comprehensive national reform launched in 1986, Viet Nam has maintained an average GDP growth rate of 7.3%, which is relatively high in the region. In particular, GDP per capita increased twenty fold and the poverty rate decreased from 58% in 1993 to 1.9% in 2014.

Together with significant improvement in people’s living standards, the role and position of Viet Nam in the international arena have been continuously consolidated. With regard to external economic relations and international trade, Viet Nam has ranked in the top 30 of world exporters. By 2013, Vietnamese commodities have been exported to 220 countries and territories all over the world with total trade turnover increased 170 times compared to that of 1986. Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Viet Nam has also been constantly increased in total capital, number and scale of projects, etc. All of the mentioned achievements showcase the successful reform and international economic integration policies of Viet Nam.

In the national development and construction, Viet Nam is glad to see that the cooperative relationship with Japan was founded during the early days of the reform process and currently continue to blossom. The two countries are now enjoying a better-than-ever relationship, which can describes as beautiful as the “mankai no sakura” (blossoming sakura). Indeed, the two countries have become each other’s important partner in all fields including politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, development assistance, as well as security and defense. Both Viet Nam and Japan have regularly exchanged high-level visits and meetings from parliamentary, cabinet to local level; facilitated dialogue mechanisms on potential co-operative links, which comprehensively tighten the relationship of the two partners. We have also worked closely and actively with each other at both international and regional forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

In 2009, Viet Nam and Japan officially recognized each other as “strategic partners” and later lifted the bilateral relationship to “extensive strategic partnership” in 2014. This development is the showcase for the high level of political trust between the two countries. Over the past years, the President and the Prime Minister of Viet Nam have in turn paid official visits to Japan. Likewise, it was not random that Prime Minister Abe chose Viet Nam for his very first official visit overseas after taking office by the end of 2012. This is a vivid evidence of the high consensus from both sides to further promote the bilateral relationship.

With respect to economic relations, Japan is the largest ODA donor for Vietnam and a top FDI investor and trade partner of Viet Nam. A large number of strategic infrastructure projects in Viet Nam such as bridges, highways, airports, seaports and hospitals, etc. have been completed thanks to ODA and FDI from Japan, thus significantly contributing to the industrialization and modernization of the country. Bilateral trade turnover has grown 23 times over the period of 1995-2014. Particularly, many Japanese businesses are making profits and continue to expand their investment in Viet Nam. Also worthy of note is the fact that there are more than 30,000 Vietnamese students and nearly 40,000 Vietnamese trainees in Japan. This will surely be one of the essential factors that help foster the long lasting cooperative relationship between the two countries.

The harmonious and strong relationship between Viet Nam and Japan are based on favorable complimentary conditions from both sides: Viet Nam owns a hardworking, young labor force and is rich with natural resources while Japan has the advantage of large capital, management capabilities and technology innovations. I therefore strongly believe that the mutually beneficial relationship between our two nations will unceasingly prosper in the many years to come.

In the joy of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the National Day of Viet Nam, I would like to extend the sincerest gratitude to the Japanese Government and people for your valuable support and cooperation over the years; and I also wish Viet Nam - Japan relationship ever grown for peace, stability and prosperity of the two countries, the region and the world over.